Team Preview: Roush Fenway Racing
RacingOne.com
There's a simple answer in Jack Roush's mind why his organization didn't live up to its expectations last season.
"We spent our time, and a disproportionate amount of it, trying to find that next breakthrough, that next steered rear axle that we introduced in 2008, which was part of the reason we were so dominant on the mile-and-a-half tracks, and the coil-bound front spring which we introduced in 2002 when the people with Greg Biffle found that," Roush said. "It didn't come. We didn't find it."
But Roush believes that is all ancient history and on the dawn of a new season he is committed to returning his team to its former glory.
And increased focus on engineering and solid support from Ford has Roush counting down the days until Daytona.
"I couldn't be more excited about 2010," Roush said. "I've learned from 2009, when I thought it was going to be a slam dunk to come back and dominate the mile-and-a-half tracks and to be a contender for a championship again. We just missed it."
Roush will also have a car missing from his stable this year with NASCAR's mandate for teams to run a maximum of four entries going into effect.
That policy made it necessary for Roush to cut the No. 26 ride sending Jamie McMurray to the Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing operation.
The remaining four-car organization now features Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan and Carl Edwards - who after getting shut out of victory lane on the Cup side last season is eager to go out and turn things around in both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup circuits.
"Our goals are simple: I want to win both championships," Edwards said. "When Matt won the [Daytona] 500 and then California [early in the 2009 season], probably all of us thought, 'Well, this is going to be it. This is going to be fun.' Throughout the year, we did struggle. I know I personally learned a lot about myself and about the team and what we need. We've been able to work on that stuff. I'm excited to get the year going."
Kenseth did come out of the box strong last year with wins at Daytona and Fontana to start the year but then dropped off as the season progressed, missing the Chase for the first time in his career.
The former series champion is hoping the chemistry with crew chief Drew Blickensderfer will help the 17 squad continue to grow.
"I feel like there's maybe a little stability there," Kenseth said. "I think he knows a lot more what I like and don't like, probably more what I don't like. I've learned a lot of things about him as well...We've got a lot of exciting things going. We made a lot of upgrades on our cars from last year. But the bottom line is we've got to do it on the race track. We've got to have better results than we had last year. We've got to get back into championship form."
Biffle made the Chase last year but failed to find victory lane, something he feels will change in 2010.
"We came very close several times," Biffle said, "but just got caught up in one thing or another to keep us from taking the checkered flag. I didn't feel we were that far off which is why I think we're going to be better this year."
For Ragan, a chance to return to the impressive ways of his rookie season two years ago would be welcomed.
"It's pretty simple: We've got to win races in 2010," Ragan said. "I'm encouraged by the things with our race cars. I feel like we've got a pretty good grasp on things for Daytona. The real test will be when we unload in California. But it's plain and simple: We've got to win races next year. We've got to be competitive, from the short tracks to the mile-and-a-half tracks to the speedway tracks."